Disclaimer: I do not own Cheaper By The Dozen or any of it's characters.

A/N: Ok I had this chapter up yesterday but I took it down and fixed it up. It was just a mess so hopefully this version is better.

Again I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed or added me to their alerts, it shows me that I am doing something right.

It was Monday and school had just ended for another day.

Lorraine was putting her books away and getting the ones needed for homework that night when Micah came ambling up with one of his friends.

"Well look who it is, it's Ellie-Mae, where's Jethro?" Micah said as he leaned up against the locker next to Lorraine's. His friend snickered at the comment.

Lorraine could feel another chunk of her armour break away at his words. Things were bad enough in her life without Micah and his heckling.

Her dad still hadn't called her mom to tell her to come home. And now he was bringing his work home. He had the team practice in the yard so that he was home. It didn't help much.

Norah was still taking precious time off work to help out.

Charlie wanted to drop out of the football team and had taken to escaping by going back to Midland to Beth's most weekends and on some school days. In gym Micah and some of the other boys had stuffed Charlie's locker with corn as a joke.

To top it off Micah was being a jerk as usual but this time Lorraine couldn't hide the hurt like she always did when he acted this way.

Lorraine shoved the rest of her books into her locker and slammed it shut fighting back the tears that were welling up in her eyes much to her dismay. Her shoulders slumped in defeat then she turned and looked up at Micah.

"Why do you have to be such a jerk?" Lorraine asked scooping up her backpack off the floor, then shoved Micah's shoulder hard with the heel of her palm causing him to turn and put his back against the row of lockers. Lorraine then hurried off down the emptying corridor. As she was hurrying off she heard Micah's friend say to him 'Ooh burn'.

Lorraine went and sat on a patch of grass under the shade of a tree not far from where Charlie had parked. He had informed her that he was going to be a bit late but she had said that she would wait. As she sat there the tears she had held back began to fall. Someone came and sat down beside her as she tried to get a hold of her emotions, she turned to see who it was, it was Micah.

"What do you want Micah? Didn't you humiliate me enough back there?"

"I came to see if you were alright"

"Oh wow, there's a new kind of jerk getting around is there? One who insults you then comes to see if you're ok" Lorraine said dryly as she wiped her tears away.

"Look I'm sorry for what I said back there" Micah said looking off in the direction that they had come then back at her.

"Just there? What about the rest of the times?" Lorraine scoffed.

"Them too" Micah said seriously.

"Really?" Lorraine asked incredulously.

"Yes really" Micah replied.

"I don't believe you"

"What do you mean you don't believe me?"

"Just that, I don't believe you nor do I trust you"

"How do I get you to trust me?"

"Why would you go to all that effort for someone you can't stand and who doesn't really like you much in return?"

"I never said I couldn't stand you"

"Well gee, your behaviour and actions towards me just makes me feel so warm and fuzzy inside" Lorraine replied sarcastically.

"Look I really am sorry for all the things I've said and done but that was before I got to know you"

"You don't know a thing about me"

"I know when you're happy your eyes light up and sparkle, when you're mad the green in your eyes stands out, when you laugh your nose crinkles up slightly, your favourite movie is 'Breakfast At Tiffany's', your favourite band is Dashboard Confessional, your favourite colour is purple, your-"

"Ok I get the point, you know a bit about me" Lorraine said interrupting Micah. "How do you know all that anyway?" Lorraine asked. Micah was about to answer when someone called out.

"Lorraine!" Charlie called coming over to where Micah and Lorraine were sitting. "Is he bothering you?" Charlie asked his body tense ready for another showdown.

"No he isn't" Lorraine replied.

"I'll see you around Baker" Micah said giving Lorraine a little nudge then stood up and strolled off to his car.

"What did he mean he'll see you around?" Charlie asked.

"Duh, he's Justine's brother who lives in the same house as her just like you and me, Justine happens to be my friend so when I go over there I'm bound to see him" Lorraine said her voice dripping in sarcasm.

"Ok, ok, what was he doing here anyway?"

"We were talking until you came along"

"Since when do the two of you get along?"

"God Charlie what's with the interrogation?"

"I'm just worried about you"

"Don't be, we were just talking"

"About what?"

"Charlie!"

"Alright, I can take a hint"

"Apparently not" Lorraine muttered to herself.

"Huh?"

"Nothing"

"Whatever, you read to go home?"

"I guess so" Lorraine said not really looking forward to seeing what mayhem was being caused at home today.

Things weren't so bad at home today, mainly because the younger kids had gotten into trouble at school so Tom stepped his foot down and grounded them, right before Dylan's birthday.

Lorraine was beyond frustrated with Micah. He was giving her whiplash with how he was treating her. When around his friends he was at his worst, but when alone he was a decent guy. Lorraine just wished he would just make up his mind in who he wanted to be. A bully or a nice guy.